Cades Cove Loop Road in Great Smoky Mountains National Park – Travel Guide, Map, and Photos

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Cades Cove Loop Road in Great Smoky Mountains National Park – Travel Guide, Map, and Photos


Tucked away in a distant nook of the Great Smoky Mountains National park is the gorgeous Cades Cove. It’s one of many most-visited and most-praised sections of the nationwide park. Cades Cove is usually spoken about with a glint within the eye and a smile on the face.

A day journey on the 11-mile Cades Cove Loop Road is likely one of the greatest issues to do within the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in Tennessee. Abundant wildlife, lovely surroundings, historic cabins, and climbing trails are just some of the issues to do. This journey information will present you how one can get there, what to do once you’re there, and offer you a couple of ideas for the perfect journey.

Cades Cove Loop Road Map

Cades Cove Loop Road Directions

The most tough half, which can be a giant a part of the attract, is attending to Cades Cove. Other than Cataloochee Valley it’s the most distant part of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Getting there could be half the enjoyable or half the ache. Here are some other ways and ideas for attending to Cades Cove.

From Townsend, Maryville, Knoxville

Take Highway 321 (Lamar Alexander Parkway) from Maryville into Townsend. It begins as a 4 lane freeway, merges right into a two lane for a brief stretch, then turns into 4 lane once more by means of Townsend. Continue by means of Townsend to The Townsend Wye. Turn proper onto Little River Gorge Road. Average time from Townsend to Cades Cove: half-hour.

From Pigeon Forge, Sevierville, I-81

Taking the scenic route alongside Little River Gorge Road can be nice as soon as but it surely’s really significantly longer, particularly once you’re leaving Cades Cove. Instead, take Wears Valley Road (Highway 321) from Pigeon Forge into Townsend. Turn left at a visitors mild and proceed to The Townsend Wye. Turn proper onto Little River Gorge Road. Average time from Pigeon Forge to Cades Cove: 45 minutes.

From Gatlinburg

The most tough half about attending to Cades Cove from Gatlinburg is getting out of Gatlinburg within the first place. If in any respect attainable out of your begin level I’d recommend getting on both the Gatlinburg Bypass or River Road to skip the congestion on Parkway. Once contained in the nationwide park flip proper onto Little River Gorge Road on the Sugarlands Visitor Center. Stay on this highway to Cades Cove. Average time from Gatlinburg to Cades Cove: 60 minutes.

From Cherokee

It is feasible to day journey into Cades Cove from Cherokee however it will be a protracted day journey. The drawback is all the time the visitors congestion in entrance of the Sugarlands Visitor Center. From Cherokee take Highway 441 (Newfound Gap Road) by means of the park. Turn left onto Little River Gorge Road on the Sugarlands Visitor Center. Stay on this highway to Cades Cove. Average time from Cherokee to Cades Cove: 1 hour 45 minutes.

A horse pokes his head between two rows of barbed wire while eating grass in Cades Cove in Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
A deer stands tall in a vibrant green meadow in Cades Cove in Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
TOP: After a day of carrying passengers, the horses are launched from the stables right into a meadow beside the Cades Cove Loop Road. BOTTOM: Deer are the most typical wildlife noticed in Cades Cove.

Wildlife in Cades Cove

As with most nationwide parks, and this one specifically, there may be plentiful wildlife to identify all through Cades Cove. But first let me reiterate a useful rule that ought to by no means be damaged: all the time keep at the least 50 yards (150’) away from the wildlife.

There are a number of causes akin to security for each folks and the wildlife but it surely actually comes down to at least one factor. If wildlife will get used to human contact and really makes contact that animal is put down. Do you wish to be chargeable for that?

In Cades Cove you might be most certainly to see deer, particularly an hour after dawn and an hour earlier than sundown. But there are additionally wild turkeys and black bear all through the cove. Black bears are mostly seen within the periphery exterior the Cades Cove Loop Road.

READ MORE: Viewing the Elk on the Oconaluftee Visitor Center within the Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Vibrant yellow leaves surround the age-worn Cable Mill in Cades Cove in Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
Autumn is a superb time to go to Cades Cove for the colourful fall colours however bear in mind will probably be busy.
Vibrant yellow leaves surround the age-worn Cable Mill in Cades Cove in Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
Autumn is a superb time to go to Cades Cove for the colourful fall colours however bear in mind will probably be busy.

Tips for Visiting Cades Cove

Being the most-visited part of a nationwide park means it’s common and that may be each good and dangerous. Here are some ideas that will help you profit from your day journey on the Cades Cove Loop Road.

  • The Cades Cove Loop Road is a one-lane, one-way loop (aside from Sparks Lane and Hyatt Lane).
  • Arrive early. The gates unlock shortly after dawn (besides on Wednesday and Saturday mornings). Usually by 10am-Noon is when the best variety of automobiles strive getting into the one-lane, one-way loop highway.
  • Either go away early or go away late. The nice variety of automobiles attempt to go away round 5pm-6pm to get again into city or house for dinner. To keep away from the visitors congestion both go away Cades Cove round 3pm or till sundown.
  • There is completely no cellphone reception wherever in Cades Cove.
  • The solely restrooms are positioned at both finish of the cove on the Campground Store and Visitor Center.
  • Driving from one finish of Cades Cove to the opposite will sometimes take about 25 minutes however relying on visitors circumstances and wildlife it may well take a lot, for much longer.

READ MORE: The Complete Travel Guide to the Foothills Parkway in Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Driving Etiquette in Cades Cove

There is de facto just one rule that issues about driving the Cades Cove Loop Road and that rule is damaged each single day: don’t cease in the course of the highway.

If you see wildlife within the distance pull off the highway. If you’ll be able to’t pull off the highway then you definitely’re simply out of luck and you must preserve shifting. Stopping in the course of the highway and blocking visitors simply so you’ll be able to have a look at deer or a bear is egocentric and may result in horrible visitors congestion.

There are loads of locations in Cades Cove to tug off the highway and get your car out of the best way so visitors can proceed to stream. Let it stream. Someone behind chances are you’ll really want to pee.

No. 1

Information Kiosk

As you enter Cades Cove on Laurel Creek Road, keep straight and also you’ll see a protracted parking space on the left. There is a lined shelter with details about Cades Cove. If you could have arrived too early the gate on the finish of the parking space should be locked so that is the place you’ll wait.

No. 2

Rich Mountain Loop Trail

Use the parking space in entrance of the data kiosk to entry this path. The 8.3-mile Rich Mountain Loop Trail is a fairly strenuous all-day hike throughout the summit of Rich Mountain. With a complete mixed 2,000’ ascent it’s a strenuous path.

The first 1.5 miles of the hike is fairly simple, although, and leads from the parking space to John Oliver Place.

A deer meanders through a grassy field before sunset in Cades Cove in Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
Deer are often noticed within the grassy fields alongside Sparks Lane, notably simply after dawn and an hour earlier than sundown.

No. 3

Sparks Lane

Sparks Lane is one in every of two roads that cuts throughout Cades Cove and has two-way visitors. This finish of Sparks Lane is 1.1 miles from the doorway into Cades Cove. Taking Sparks Lane now would make the whole loop simply 3.7 miles.

The slim gravel highway is a frequent vacation spot for portrait images. You may also catch some wildlife within the fields or crossing the highway round dawn and sundown. Near the north finish of the highway there’s a neat place the place a ford crosses Abrams Creek; there may be parking beside the ford the place you may get out of your automotive.

READ MORE: 50+ Favorite Travel Photos From Years of Exploring the Great Smoky Mountains National Park

A log cabin, the John Oliver Place, tucked into a cove of vibrant green trees in Cades Cove in Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
It’s a few 5 minute stroll to John Oliver Place, the oldest construction remaining within the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

No. 4

John Oliver Place

There are two locations to park for accessing the path to John Oliver Place. The first is on the finish of Sparks Lane in a small parking zone. The second is across the subsequent curve with pull-in parking spots alongside the Cades Cove Loop Road. Both of those parking areas are usually full on fairly days so chances are you’ll have to drive a bit additional to discover a protected place to park on the facet of the highway.

It is a very simple 0.3-mile hike throughout an open discipline from the parking areas to John Oliver Place.

John Oliver Place is the oldest remaining construction within the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. It’s an impressive cabin to discover contemplating it was constructed within the 1820s earlier than the primary mills within the space. The cabin is usually left unlocked and open to discover throughout sunlight hours.

Worn tombstones mark gravesites behind the all-white Cades Cove Primitive Baptist Church in Cades Cove in Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
The cemetery at Cades Cove Primitive Baptist Church is one in every of about 5 in Cades Cove.

No. 5

Cades Cove Primitive Baptist Church

Getting to Cades Cove Primitive Baptist Church, and getting again out once more, could be tough. The quick spur highway on the left resulting in the church is a one-lane highway with two-way visitors. There are a few locations to tug over and permit automobiles to cross. But I as soon as acquired caught in a kind of pull offs attempting to depart the church with one automotive after one other turning off the Cades Cove Loop with out giving me an opportunity to depart.

Once you get to the church it’s a moderately lovely factor to see. The doorways are left open through the day and you may stroll by means of the church. There is a brief path main round behind the church by means of the graveyard.

No. 6

Cades Cove Methodist Church

The Cades Cove Methodist Church is positioned on a little bit hill immediately beside the Cades Cove Loop Road. One time after I visited musicians had been arrange inside enjoying music, however I by no means did discover out if that was a daily factor and even allowed.

A long gravel road with rustic wooden fences on both sides and mountain peaks in the distance in Cades Cove in Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
Hyatt Lane is one in every of two gravel roads crossing by means of Cades Cove, an excellent alternative to skip a portion of the loop highway or loop again round once more.
A long gravel road with rustic wooden fences on both sides and mountain peaks in the distance in Cades Cove in Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
Hyatt Lane is one in every of two gravel roads crossing by means of Cades Cove, an excellent alternative to skip a portion of the loop highway or loop again round once more.

No. 7

Hyatt Lane

Hyatt Lane is the second two-way highway slicing throughout Cades Cove. From right here it’s about 3 miles from the doorway into Cades Cove. Turning round right here would make the whole loop about 8 miles. This is the final place to chop the whole 11-mile loop quick.

READ MORE: 6 Awesome Auto Touring Routes within the Great Smoky Mountains National Park

No. 8

Rich Mountain Road

There is just one method into Cades Cove, however there are 3 ways out. One of these is the 7-mile Rich Mountain Road. The path throughout Rich Mountain was carved between Townsend and Cades Cove within the 1800s and its one of many curviest roads in Tennessee.

Rich Mountain Road is a one-way gravel highway. It takes about two hours to wealthy Townsend on the route. The highway is open seasonally from May by means of October.

A hymnal lays open on a pedestal inside Cades Cove Missionary Baptist Church in Cades Cove in Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
The Cades Cove Missionary Baptist Church is often open for guests the place you’ll discover hymnals and previous pews.

No. 9

Cades Cove Missionary Baptist Church

This is my favourite of the three historic church buildings in Cades Cove to go to. The church is positioned immediately beside the Cades Cove Loop Road (throughout from Rich Mountain Road). There are a couple of parking areas on both facet of the highway.

The inside is sparse, however attractive in a simplistic sort of method. Walk by means of the church to the again door after which across the graveyard. It’s a brief and straightforward stroll.

The view from a slight hill overlooking the green meadows of Cades Cove in Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
Bring a blanket and plan for a picnic on the Native Plant Overlook, the perfect place for an total view of Cades Cove.

No. 10

Native Plant Overlook

This scenic overlook sits on a hill close to the top of Cades Cove with a commanding view trying alongside the mountain ranges surrounding the cove. This might be the largest parking zone within the cove in addition to the one on the customer middle.

No. 11

Early Days Parking

Just down the hill from the earlier overlook, this one has a a lot smaller parking zone and never a lot of a view. It’s an excellent overflow parking space, although, and a fantastic place to get out and wander.

No. 12

Wet Bottom Trail

This lengthy parking space on the left facet of the Cades Cove Loop Road has a pleasant view from the underside of the cove. Across the highway is a brief spur path resulting in the Wet Bottom Trail and ultimately one other spur path to the Elijah Oliver Cabin.

The Elijah Oliver Cabin was inbuilt 1865 after the Oliver household returned to Cades Cove following the top of the Civil War. It’s essentially the most distant historic construction in Cades Cove with a 1-mile roundtrip hike from the parking zone.

The parking space can be a fantastic overflow parking space for Abrams Falls. If the Abrams Falls Parking Area is full, proceed across the Cades Cove Loop Road to Hyatt Lane and return to the Wet Bottom Trail Parking. The Wet Bottom Trail results in the Abrams Falls Trail.

READ MORE: Travel Guide to the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail at Great Smoky Mountains National Park

No. 13

Abrams Falls

Abrams Falls is the preferred waterfall in Cades Cove and probably the most common within the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Getting there’s a pretty simple hike, but it surely’ll take a couple of hours.

The primitive parking space on the finish of a brief spur highway will usually replenish earlier than midday. There is ample parking, so that you’ll in all probability discover a place there.

The 4.9-mile roundtrip hike follows alongside Abrams Creek many of the method. There is a few 600’ ascent on the path as you cross a few quick peaks after which climb all the way down to the bottom of the waterfall. The path can get very muddy at occasions so make sure to put on actually good footwear for this path.

Water spins the wheel at the Cable Mill in Cades Cove in Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
Water runs along a dull gray aqueduct in Cades Cove in Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
Water slides alongside the country aqueduct to the Cable Mill, one of many oldest (and nonetheless operational) grist mills within the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

No. 14

Cades Cove Visitor Center

It virtually appears kinda foolish for the Cades Cove Visitor Center to be on the far finish of Cades Cove. But I’ve to confess it’s a good location.

The one-room customer middle doubles as a moderately good present store with all kinds of books and souvenirs. It’s a small present store, however nonetheless value searching by means of. The restrooms are positioned in a separate constructing beside the parking zone. The parking zone has loads of areas but it surely does are likely to get crowded on common days.

Beside the Cades Cove Visitor Center is the John Cable Mill. This iconic grist mill is likely one of the most-photographed areas in the whole nationwide park (I’ve fairly a couple of pictures myself just like the one above).

The paved path from the customer middle passes the Cable Mill, Becky Cable House, a small barn, and ends on the Cable Drive-Thru Barn (I don’t know if that’s the official title however that’s what I’ve heard folks name it). At the Cable Mill you’ll be able to comply with one other path alongside the aqueduct feeding water to the grist mill.

READ MORE: Where to Find the Visitor Centers within the Great Smoky Mountains National Park

An old log cabin at the end of a gravel path in Cades Cove in Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
It’s solely a three-minute drive and a one-minute stroll to see the Henry Whitehead Place.

No. 15

Forge Creek Road

The highway that begins as Forge Creek Road ultimately turns into Parsons Branch Road. This is one other one-way route leaving out of Cades Cove. The 10-mile gravel highway takes fairly some time to drive and results in Highway 129 close to Fontana Dam, North Carolina.

Forge Creek Road begins as a two-way highway so far as the Gregory Ridge Trail Parking, the place it turns into the one-way Parsons Branch Road main out of Cades Cove.

The Henry Whitehead Place is likely one of the most-overlooked historic cabins in Cades Cove as a result of most individuals don’t realize it’s there. This lovely cabin has a a lot older cabin immediately behind it, every with a stone/brick hearth. It’s a captivating comparability between previous notched timber and milled plank building side-by-side.

But it’s additionally the results of a really unhappy story. The cabin was constructed after a person deserted his spouse and son within the cove.

Warm light from sunset bathes the rustic wooden cabin at the Dan Lawson Place, surrounded by vibrant green grass and other buildings.
The Dan Lawson Place is a wonderful instance of a “new” cabin in Cades Cove.
Warm light from sunset bathes the rustic wooden cabin at the Dan Lawson Place, surrounded by vibrant green grass and other buildings.
The Dan Lawson Place is a wonderful instance of a “new” cabin in Cades Cove.

No. 16

Dan Lawson Place

If I had been to have settled in Cades Cove virtually 2 hundred years in the past that is the place I’d have constructed a home. The Dan Lawson Place is a group of some buildings in a little bit cove surrounded by timber with an impressive view throughout Cades Cove.

For some purpose (or perhaps the view is the rationale) the parking areas all the time appear to be taken. Just a little additional down Cades Cove Loop Road are a few pull-offs on the correct facet with sufficient room for a few automobiles. It can be a five-minute stroll again to the country cabins.

The kitchen wing on the back of the rustic Tipton Place in Cades Cove in Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
Tipton Place is the most important historic residence in Cades Cove and options the favored cantilever barn throughout the highway.

No. 17

Tipton Place

Tipton Place is the situation of the long-lasting cantilevered barn that may be a common photographic topic. I’ve by no means been capable of seize a photograph, nonetheless, as a result of every time I’ve visited I’ve discovered a photographer there with {couples} and households and brides capturing portraits.

Across the highway from the barn is the gorgeous Tipton household house. The two-story house with a kitchen addition within the again is the largest historic house in Cades Cove. There are a few smaller outbuildings surrounding the home.

No. 18

Valley View Overlook

The parking space alongside the left facet of the Cades Cove Loop Road overlooks the valley throughout the cove. This is likely one of the greatest spots to see deer grazing within the fields simply earlier than sundown every day.

A small log cabin surrounded by towering trees and vibrant green grass in Cades Cove in Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
The Carter Shields Cabin is likely one of the easiest and smallest historic construction in Cades Cove.
A small log cabin surrounded by towering trees and vibrant green grass in Cades Cove in Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
The Carter Shields Cabin is likely one of the easiest and smallest historic construction in Cades Cove.

No. 19

Carter Shields Cabin

Just once you assume you’ve seen sufficient historic cabins you come throughout this one. It’s positioned again from the Cades Cove Loop Road on a gravel path. The small log house is in a good looking setting and one in every of my favorites to stroll round.

No. 20

Lone Grove Overlook

The Lone Grove Overlook is the ultimate scenic overlook on the Cades Cove Loop Road earlier than returning to the doorway. A lone tree stands in the course of a meadow close to the overlook. Beneath the tree is the LeQuire Family Cemetery, a group of a few dozen gravesites marked solely with fieldstones.

READ MORE: Travel Guide to Cataloochee Valley within the Great Smoky Mountains National Park

No. 21

Cades Cove Campground Store

The Cades Cove Campground Store is a superb place to begin a day on the Cades Cove Loop Road. The retailer has a really good present store with clothes, drinkware, images, and many memento gadgets. If you might be tenting, additionally they have a wide selection of groceries simply in case you want a factor or two.

The deli has some fairly good meals like burgers, hotdogs, and ice cream. It’s not a nasty place to seize one thing to eat but it surely’s dear and the meats are often frozen so the standard isn’t the best.

Bicycle Rentals

Next door to the shop is the bicycle rental workplace. Seeing Cades Cove from the attitude of slowly pedaling across the loop is an actual deal with. Rentals are first-come, first-served so once more you’ll want to come as early as attainable.

Rentals are $7.50/hour for adults and $4.50/hour for youngsters below 10.

Did you recognize? The Cades Cove Loop Road is closed to car visitors on Wednesday and Saturday mornings earlier than 10am (May – September). This permits guests with their very own bicycles or rental bicycles a pair hours of early morning daylight to get pleasure from a peaceable experience across the loop highway.

No. 22

Cades Cove Riding Stables

Going horseback driving in Cades Cove is an unbelievable expertise. The folks at Cades Cove Stables are pleasant and know precisely what they’re doing to assist individuals who don’t usually experience horses to get pleasure from this expertise. Each guided horseback experience lasts about an hour and prices $35 for adults and $25 for youngsters below 13.

If horseback driving isn’t your factor what about horse drawn carriage rides? They have a good looking previous carriage to whisk guests away for a 45-minute tour by means of the forest. Carriage rides are $15 for adults and $10 for youngsters below 13.

No. 23

Cades Cove Picnic Area

As you enter the Cades Cove space flip left right into a highway main towards the campground. Take an instantaneous second left into the Cades Cove Picnic Area. This good, secluded picnic space has a number of tables and provides a fantastic place to get pleasure from a packed lunch earlier than or after your journey on the Cades Cove Loop Road.

Cades Cove Campground

The Cades Cove Campground is likely one of the largest and nicest within the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The campground options 159 websites and may accommodate RVs as much as 40’.

The campground is constructed round two loops and virtually all of the websites are back-in. There are six restrooms services positioned all through the campground however no showers. There is a dump station as nicely.

The Cades Cove Campground is one in every of solely two campgrounds within the park open year-round (the opposite is Smokemont in North Carolina).

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is Cades Cove Loop Road?

Cades Cove Loop Road is in Great Smoky Mountains National Park close to Townsend, Tennessee.

How lengthy does it take to drive Cades Cove Loop Road?

It takes about an hour to drive Cades Cove Loop Road with out making any stops.

How lengthy is Cades Cove Loop Road?

Cades Cove Loop Road is 11 miles lengthy.

Where do you begin the Cades Cove Loop?

Cades Cove Loop Road begins close to the Cades Cove Campground on the finish of Laurel Creek Road.

Is the highway to Cades Cove scary to drive?

No, the highway to Cades Cove isn’t scary to drive. However, there are various curves.

Is Cades Cove Loop Road open all 12 months?

Yes, the Cades Cove Loop Road is open all 12 months aside from inclement climate.

Are there restrooms on the Cades Cove Loop Road?

Yes, there are restrooms on the Cades Cove Campground Store and the Cades Cover Visitor Center at reverse ends of the loop highway.

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